Day four of The Source sexual harassment trial kicked off this week with talks of an alleged sexual affair between 50 Cent and former Source editor-in-chief Kim Osorio.

Osorio was back on the stand today (October 16) to continue her testimony from last week, saying that the humiliation she allegedly suffered at the hands of Raymond "Benzino" Scott, former co-owner of The Source, went on long after her employment for the magazine ended.

Months after being terminated, Osorio landed her current position as executive editor of music at BET.com. She testified that she and her superior were on a boat in Miami to interview Murder Inc's Irv Gotti when they ran into Benzino and fellow former Source co-owner David Mays.

"Ray stepped in front of me and said, 'What up?'" Osorio testified. Then she said security stepped in and said something to Benzino.

"He started yelling, 'We can take this off the boat!'" the plaintiff recalled. "He said, 'Get her the fuck off the boat!'"

Osorio said she was then forced to leave the boat and was unable to do her job.

It was a hard-earned testimony for the plaintiff, as Judge Jed S. Rakoff admonished the plaintiff's counsel several times about asking leading questions.

Former Source vice president of content and communications Tracii McGregor was also on the stand this morning. McGregor testified that she had concerns about Osorio's reputation and she brought them to Mays.

"There were rumors swirling that Kim had affairs with various rappers," McGregor said.

Those rumors were exposed in a live broadcast on NY radio station Hot 97 when Osorio was being interviewed by correspondent Sway. "He asked her about giving 50 Cent 'brain,' live on the air," McGregor said.

McGregor also testified that she was made aware that 50 Cent wrote a song alluding to his escapades with Osorio, though she admitted to never having heard it. Throughout McGregor's testimony Judge Rakoff continually warned her about editorializing, rather than simply answering the question.

At one point, the jury was even led out of the courtroom and Judge Rakoff threatened to fine McGregor $10,000 if she continued to go beyond the scope of questioning with "superfluous" answers.

"In 10 years on the bench, I've never had a witness who so repeatedly and willfully violated the court's [directions]," Rakoff said, adding that the plaintiff's counsel didn't help by asking so many poor questions.

But McGregor was able to speak to Benzino's claim that the only reason Osorio submitted a written complaint of discrimination was for fear of losing her job. McGregor testified that Osorio called her one evening, after McGregor had already left the company, asking for advice. McGregor said Osorio heard she was going to be terminated and she wanted to know how McGregor's parting ways with the company was handled.

According to McGregor, Osorio asked about severance pay specifically. "[Osorio] said, 'I'm not trying to leave. I'm not trying to be outta here,'" McGregor testified. "I told her to pack up her things anyway because I had to sneak back in to get my things."

Stay tuned for more of SOHH's exclusive coverage of The Source sexual harassment trial as it develops.

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The comments written below do not reflect the opinions of SOHH.com, 4CONTROL Media, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Comments may be deleted in our sole discretion.

* d yo says...
* 50 cent is f#@$ing everything
* Monday, 10-16-2006 @ 4:24pm

* the one and only says...
* 1st, you tricks!!!!
* Monday, 10-16-2006 @ 4:26pm

* GOD'S CHILD says...
* Mays And Benzino Are Straight beeyatches. Those Two Have Access To All The Women In The World And These Cats Sweating Employee. Benzino And Mays Should Be Jailed!
* Mond

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At the end of day three of SOHH's exclusive coverage of The Source sex trial, tales of inter-office relationships, torrid business trips and sex with rappers were all commonplace at the magazine.

After a brief 15-minute recess, the trial reconvened with former Source editor-in-chief Kim Osorio still on the stand. She testified that she wasn't the only female employee at The Source being harassed. Osorio told the jury of multiple instances when she witnessed former Source honcho Raymond "Benzino" Scott touching and speaking to managing editor Adilla Francis in an inappropriate manner.

"He would grab her and hug her and kiss her ... Sit on her lap," Osorio said.

On a business trip in Puerto Rico, Osorio said, she and Francis were coming off the elevator in the hotel where a convention was being held after meeting with Benino and then Source publisher Dave Mays. "He grabbed her and said, 'Come on, you're coming with me,'" Osorio recalled. She then said Benzino then instructed Mays to, "Take Kim to get something to eat."

Osorio testified that Francis had complained to her about Benzino's behavior and the plaintiff advised Francis to file a written report. At this point in her testimony, Judge Jed S. Rakoff posed his own question to Osorio.

"You were the editor-in-chief, were you not?" asked Judge Rakoff.

"Yes," she replied.

"Then why didn't you take further action?" he continued.

"Because I was afraid he was going to fire me," Osorio said.

Osorio alleged that though Benzino had blatantly pursued Francis, he turned his sights on her, inviting the plaintiff to Atlantic City, NJ for the weekend. She then described a scene where the two were leaving the office one evening on the elevator.

"He kept saying, 'Come to Atlantic City with me?'" Osorio said he asked repeatedly. "'You're coming to Atlantic City with me.'"

Once the two were outside of the building, Osorio accepted a ride from him to the parking lot to get her car. She testified that Benzino persisted in asking her to go away with him and when they pulled into the garage and she got out of the car, he said, "I'm gonna call you. You're coming with me."

According to the plaintiff, when she got home that night Benzino called her at least 10 times on her cell phone and at least another 5 times on her home phone. She said she doesn't know how Benzino got her home number and that she didn't answer the phone.

Osorio also alleged that during her employment, Benzino repeatedly questioned her about her sex life, demanding to know if she were having relations with certain hip-hop artists. "Nas, Jay-Z, Slim Thug... Any artist I ever wanted to do a story on, I had to be fucking them," Osorio said.

She went on to say that Benzino asked her about her sex life, in general, all the time. "'Who are you fucking?'" Osorio alleged he would ask. "'Tell me who you're fucking.'"

She said he revealed to her that he'd slept with recording artists such as Foxy Brown, Trina and Lil Kim. According to Osorio, he even told her about Mays' sex life. "He said, 'Dave used to do it. He slept with [veteran female MCs] Nikki D and Yo-Yo.'"

According to Osorio, Benzino also admitted to having a sexual relationship with Francis. "'We slide off at lunch,'" Osorio alleged Benzino said.

Osorio said Benzino also made a vulgar remark to her at one point about a cover photo of Ashanti [see photo above]. "He said, 'Ashanti looks so good on the cover. She got a fat pussy. But I can't, that's Irv's piece.'"

Osorio also alleged that at one time Benzino called radio personality Minya Oh, better known as Miss Info, a "ching chong slut." He also said that Oh was "on her knees as an intern," Osorio told the jury.

When court reconvened after lunch, Osorio's attorneys called Sabrina Smith, another former Source employee, to the stand. Smith, who was called early due to a scheduling conflict, testified that she met Benzino in the elevator of the magazine's office one day and that he remarked that she had a "fat ass" as she exited the elevator. Smith said she didn't learn that Benzino was co-owner of The Source until later, when he began calling her at work repeatedly. The calls became so frequent that at one point that she stopped answering in-house calls and then stopped answering the phone altogether.

After Smith, Osorio retook the stand and told the jury of Benzino and Mays' plot to ruin the reputation of New York radio personality Angie Martinez.

"Ray said he wanted to attack her in the magazine," Osorio recalled of the April 2005 feature entitled "Hot Air." "He wanted to know who she fucked and sucked and put everything out there. He said he wanted to put the fact that she had a child by a certain artist in the magazine."

According to Osorio, Mays was in on the plot to defame Martinez and equally zealous, as he rejected the first version of the article submitted. "Dave said the article we had submitted wasn't vicious enough and if I had to make something up, then go ahead and make it up."

Osorio's testimony went on for most of the day recounting time after time, incident after incident of Benzino's alleged misconduct at work as well as that of Mays and a general environment of hostility. But every vignette the plaintiff's team offered wasn't accepted by the court.

Osorio told of an incident when she was invited to speak at a feminism conference at a university in Chicago. She said she had already accepted the engagement and her travel plans were confirmed when Mays got wind of the news and forced her to pull out. "He said, 'The Source shouldn't be involved in any feminism conference,'" Osorio said. "'This is the kind of thing that should be attacked in the magazine.'"

But Judge Rakoff struck this testimony from the record, finding that it is perfectly lawful for the magazine to take a certain position on feminism, if it so chooses. "This is an issue of free speech and not an example of discrimination," he said.

The trial will reconvene Monday (October 16).

[For more on The Source sexual harassment trial, check out SOHH's exclusive Source trial blog.]

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38 USER COMMENTS
The comments written below do not reflect the opinions of SOHH.com, 4CONTROL Media, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Comments may be deleted in our sole discretion.

* tunes says...
* first beeyatches. but real talk the music industry some grimey sh!t.
* Friday, 10-13-2006 @ 11:04pm

* Bubo says...
* Nikki D? Yikes. I was wondering how lil Kim got 5 mics.
* Friday, 10-13-2006 @ 11:15pm

* Bones says...
* LoL. Word. The head must've been GOOD for that album to get 5 mics.
* Friday, 10-13-2006 @ 11:38pm

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It's funny how things can quickly change for the better. Just a few days ago, we were discussing the possibility of Flipperachi's new album, I Need Mine, becoming a commercial flop. Then he turns around and drops this monster of a song to silence his critics. Check it.

Lil' Flip feat. Lyfe Jennings - "Ghetto Mindstate" (mp3) :
I can't stand Lyfe and his monotonous crooning, but cot damn he's been on a roll lately. This song really brings out the best in Flipperachi, and if you can't respect that, then your whole perspective is wack. It's got that whole "Hard Knock Life" feel to it. Of course, the strength of an entire album does not hang on one song alone, so let's hope the rest of I Need Mine jams like this.

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The other day I was perusing Isiah Carey's Insite when I came across this Bun B article:

Bun: I see some fools like to ignore the blogs and the bulletins that say no spamming, but thats aight. I'm now only manually approving comments on the page to stop these people from fillin up the entire page with advertisements. I've already said countless times for people not to do this, but no one seems to care so for now on there is gonna be no more advertising. Sorry to all the fans for this cause now your comment may not be approved because it might simply just get skipped =/ Sorry guys but blame all these cats that like to say "ayo check me out" a million times.

Unlike many of his peers, Bun seems like the "let me check the internet and see who's talking bad 'bout me"-type. First, he attacks one XXL Blogger for calling out the south, now he's taking war to MySpace spammers. You gotta love him for taking a stand, though. (No Clay Aiken). I like Rhymefest and all, but I still think SOHH should have kept Bun B's blog alive as well.

Speaking of Bun, I'll leave you with my favorite song at the moment:

Hi-Tek feat. Bun B, Devin the Dude & Dion - "So Tired" (mp3)
Posted by SOHH Rizoh at October 16, 2006 06:19 AM
Comments

first

Posted by: NYC 4 LIFE at October 16, 2006 09:02 AM

man im feeling that flip but you right 1 song dont make an album you know what i hope flip get his spot back just for the haters

nigga fuck your first nigga fuck your first nigga

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In this week's Pulse Report, the streets are buzzing about Young Jeezy questioning Nas' street credibility, Jim Jones dissing Tony Yayo again, Lil' Wayne kissing Juvenile and B.G. and DJ Kay Slay sticking up for Jay-Z.

1. Jeezy questions Nas' street cred. There's apparently a "Nas and Jay-Z bite" bandwagon slowly spreading. In recent weeks, dudes who most would agree, have no business taking shots at the two classic lyricists, have been coming out of their faces with some outrageous statements. Yesterday morning, (December 7) Young Jeezy appeared on Philadelphia's 100.3 The Beat radio station to promote his forthcoming album, The Inspiration. It seems like he ended up promoting Nas' album instead. After sounding off on Weezy claiming to being better than Jay-Z, Snowman and the show's host's, Monie Love began arguing on whether or not hip-hop was dead.[Listen to the interview here] "You got Nas coming back saying hip-hop is dead. Who is he to say hip-hop is dead?" Jeezy offered with an insulted tone. "I might as well make a comment like Lil' Wayne then. Ya'll gon tell me I ain't doing hip-hop?" As "brilliant" as he is, Snowman then inexplicably lost his marbles and proceeded to question Nas' street cred in the heart of the "is hip-hop is dead" argument. O...K! "What you saying? I'ma respect his craft, and he ain't gon respect mine?" Jeezy asked. "Nas ain't no street nigga. He ain't been in no streets. Nas ain't did nothing he talking about, so what you saying?"

Who knew the Queensbridge Projects, America's largest,couldn't be considered the streets. Thanks for the education Jeezy. Wait, there's more. "Nas bus his guns? Nas been on the block? Do Nas have street credibility?" he continued. "Is any of Nas' homies in the feds? If Nas saying hip-hop is dead, I'm saying hip-hop is alive then. Tell him to get at me." No wonder Jeezy was his high school's debate team captain. He also attempted to use first week sales to prove his point during the argument. How does that Hov song go again..."Dig A Hole?" Well, apparently, Jeezy has been listening to his label's president. The argument ended with Monie Love putting her foot down. "It's dead," she firmly proclaimed. "Right there, I said it." The proud trapper then stormed out of the studio.

2. Is Jim Jones dissing Yayo? Roughly a month ago, Jones poked fun at G-Unit's Tony Yayo, snapping, "That nigga's an immigrant. He's a straight hater, he belong in little Haiti." Dipset's capo was responding to rumors that Yayo mocked "We Fly High" by screaming "booooorrrriinnnn" backstage at Hot 97's Back To School concert. Jones may have just taken another shot at the self-proclaimed "real talk of New York." The Harlemite is seen doing the Yayo dance towards the end of the "We Fly High" remix video. So, was that another stab at Yayo? On another note, "We Fly High" turned out to be the most stuntastic video in recent memory. With appearances from Diddy, T.I., Juelz Santana, Birdman and Young Dro, the clip has the gang throwing around a senseless amount of money. Diddy can be seen juggling piles while he and Jones later play catch.

3. Weezy claims to kissing Juvenile and B.G. Shouts to folks at Complex Magazine for providing beaucoup material for this week's Pulse Report. In the December/January issue of the publication, Weezy made no apology for kissing his surrogate father, Birdman. "I don't fault nobody for misunderstanding. I don't understand a lot of shit," Weezy explained to Complex. "Baby walked in the crib one day and was like, 'Everybody's doing this black mob shit. When I see you niggas, this is what we're gonna do.' And that's why you've probably got a picture of me because I stuck with everything that man said." "But every nigga's done that," Weezy added. "I've done kissed [Juvenile and B.G.]. No homo. Pause."

4. Kay Slay and Young Jeezy stick up for Jay-Z. The Drama King and the God emcee may have never been the best of friends, but Slay recently denounced Weezy's nerves during his Shade 45 Streetsweepers radio show. "You don't have the authority to go at Jay-Z, b," Slay told Weezy. "That's disrespectful. I think it's certain level of motherfuckers that can go at... like the same way that Gillie [Da Kid] was digging in yo ass and you looked the other way cause you felt that he wasn't on your level. Where the fuck do you get the right to go at Jay-Z?" Slay then reminded Weezy that he publicly idolized Hov not that long ago. Word is Weezy has since retracted his statement. "This is a brother, a few years ago that you was calling the greatest rapper in the world," Slay recalled. "Dawg, you really need to clean that shit up. You foul for going at Jay. I'm not the biggest Jay fan either. I'm just stating facts."

It turns out that Jeezy did have a little bit of sense the day of his Philly interview. Apparently, he also didn't agree with Weezy's bold declarations. "As far as what he's saying, he's tripping," Jeezy told Monie Love early in the aforementioned interview. "If you wanna holla at dude, you holla at dude. You don't make comments cause I mean last year, he was your favorite rapper."

5. Nas won't become a boss. While heads were busy criticizing God's son for his lack of business savvy, it turns out that he quietly turned down an offer to become a high ranked executive at Atlantic Records. The Queens, NY lyricist unveiled the blurry details during an interview in Complex's December/January issue. "I'm still his boss," Nas joked regarding Jones. "I am above him. Who's not above Jim Jones? I don't know any of his records and I'm not even being funny. Like I know he's got a record called 'Ballin.' I hope it sells some records, but I swear to you I've never heard it."

6. Em and Fif vow to sell 10 mil again. Though rappers have been hanging plywood plaques on their wall all year, record breakersEminem and 50 Cent aren't too worried about their own sales. During an appearance on "106 & Park's" couch earlier this week, Em commented that the commercial success of Jay-Z's Kingdome Come could help boost sales for future hip-hop projects. "As far as Jay-Z doing the numbers that he did. I feel like [it] breathes new life into hip-hop...music, period," Em told Terrence J and Rosci during the interview. "It lets you know that you can still do those numbers and be successful." Terrence then asked the Shady and G-Unit bosses if they thought it was still possible for artists to sell 10 million albums in the industry's current climate. "I can, watch me," Fif declared emphatically. "After Fif, watch me," Em added. Can it be done? The rest of the interview was interesting to say the least. Fif hogged the entire couch time, either acting as Em's self-appointed publicist by finishing his sentences or just jumping in because Em was receiving too much attention. 10 mill uh? What do you guys think? Is it possible?

For any questions, comments or criticism, hit up Dick Johnson at [www.myspace.com/shcrewu2]

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* Donair says...
* impossible for both of them. fiddy is washed up, he can make a few club bangers but nobody likes him no more. he surrounded himself with too much drama. Eminem? he isnt angry anymore, what is he gonna rap about? how the last 5 years of his life were great
*
* Co-Sign!
* Friday, 12-08-2006 @ 5:49am

* Capital P says...
* Young jeezy is one of My favorite South Artist. Keep up the Good work. Cop the inspiration. f#@$ NAS. He Is WACK!
*
* Co-Sign!
* Friday, 12-08-2006 @ 7:58am

* Son's God says...
* i think Em could sell those numbers again. I mean, what does Nas talk about these days? Em has the lyrical ability to say some 'universal' ish that young and old could dig. you already know he has that pop-crossover appeal. Ya, he could sell 10 mil at
*
* Co-Sign!
* Friday, 12-08-2006 @ 8:03am

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Despite the unprofessionalism of Jeezy at the Tabernacle last week, and his much publicized radio rant with popular Radio personality Monie Love. It seems that people still wanted to fuck with the snowman as his sophomore effort came in at number one this week selling an impressive 352,000 copies. With unfavorable music reviews, a lackluster first single, and a diva like attitude to boot. Many thought that Jeezy would face his ultimate demise on the album charts with an incredible flop.

Like Shakira’s smash single —“The Hips Don’t Lie”, usually the streets don’t either and the buzz on the street weren’t good for the former dope dealer. However, the young aspiring fashion designer can pop many bottles in celebration as he beat the sophomore jinx and came out on top.

Though I have my opinions on Jeezy, which if you’ve been around lately—you’ve read how I feel, I am surprised and happy for him. Being in this business I can appreciate and commend anybody who stays on their hustle and can successfully seize the moment. With that said—congratulations Jeezy. Let’s hope you don’t experience a 81% nose dive like that other self proclaimed “best rapper alive”.

In other related Billboard news…
Somebody hit the sad music for Ciara. After making an impressive splash on the charts last week with Ciara: The Evolution, fans are slipping through the Aaliyah inspired singer’s little fingers. Her album plummeted a shocking 51% dropping 1-11 according to billboard. Could the noticeably absent Jazzy Pha have been the reason for the young starlet’s disappointing positioning this week. Who knows? But that’s what the streets are saying.

Speaking of Ciara….

Is Ciara Princes Harris – Disloyal or Disgruntled?

I've been hearing about Ciara leaving Sho Nuff Records for some time now, but I haven't had a moment to write anything about it due to my hectic schedule. Word in the street is that Ciara has dumped mega producer, and Atlanta's own Jazzy Pha to gain more momentum in the pop world. When it became time for Ciara to start work on her sophomore album, I’m being told that Jive stepped up and forced a hostile takeover, snatching the “Oh”, and “Gooddies” starlet away from the ultra charismatic beat maker.

Her latest CD, which debuted this month at number one on billboard, was noticeably Jazzy free leaving many scratching their heads in confusion. Why would Ciara not include the producer who single handedly thrusted her into the mainstream spotlight almost three years ago? There is speculation that Jazzy Pha may have become a professional liablity to Ciara. Others argue that he wanted more creative control of her future projects and inevitability more money. Though nobody's talking from Ciara's camp I am personally trying to secure an interview with Jazzy Pha to see what he's got to say about the matter.

Ciara made her debut in the summer of 2004 with the Billboard number-one single "Goodies". The album Goodies was released on September 28, 2004. It produced three top three singles, sold 2.6 million in the U.S., five million worldwide, and earned various awards and nominations. Despite her success, none of it would have been possible without the "Rodney Jerkins of the South"—by her side. But after blowing up and becoming a household name she jumped shipped and moved on no longer affiliating herself with Sho Nuff Records.

In a recent radio interview, Ciara was quizzed about her questionable and abrupt departure from the hit maker and his steadily growing music company. But, she refused to comment on any questions related to Jazzy, Sho Nuff Records, or their current relationship—leaving many to believe that she has chosen money, fame and a more established record company over loyalty and friendship. Is Ciara's decision to move on to greener pastures disloyal, or is Pha still financially profiting of the princess of crunk music? I don’t know exactly what’s going just yet. But, when I know trust and believe you’ll know.

Developing…

Bow Wow was on BET’s 106 & Park on Tuesday to promote that new album “The Price of Fame” Shit is getting heavy for lil dude. If anyone understands the business then you know that when an album comes out that’s when the shit gets hectic. I’m still working on gettin that interview with Bow. But in the meantime check out some pictures and his appearance on the show.
Speaking of Bow Wow...

Just as diamonds are created from carbon through intense heat and pressure deep beneath the earth's surface, Bow Wow -- listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the youngest solo rapper to ever hit #1 -- has matured from a multi-platinum teen rap star into a full-fledged musical force with his fifth studio album, The Price of Fame, a journey inside the mind of a man who's grown up in the public eye, felt the pleasures and pitfalls of acclaim, and learned valuable lessons from the wealth of his experience.

According to Bow Wow, who will be 20 in March 2007, this last year "was emotional and stressful. I felt like I was going crazy with things bothering me, and all this comes with being famous." Coming off of one of the busiest -- the SRO Scream IV Tour and top-grossing features films including "Roll Bounce" and "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" -- years of his career, Bow Wow wanted "to go in the studio and work because it's just natural. Every song is from experience. It's easy for me to do what I do because it is a reflection of my life."

In celebration of the release of his new album, The Price of Fame, Bow Wow is teaming up with Photobucket.com for a celebrity look-a-like contest. Contestants can enter by sending their photo and the name of the celebrity they look like to [email protected]. The best entries will be featured on Bow Wow's MySpace.com profile (www.myspace.com/bowwow) using a slideshow courtesy of Photobucket.com. Two grand prize winners will receive an autographed copy of The Price of Fame. The contest will run until January 13, 2007.

Bow Wow's new album 'The Price of Fame' In Stores Today!!
Features the #1 single 'Shortie Like Mine' featuring Chris Brown

Shortie Like Mine feat. Chris Brown (audio)

Hip-Hop Quote of The Day...

We used to talk about wanting to get some money, but that's when hip-hop was based on your dreams and your fantasy. The whole thing now is the dreams and fantasies were achieved, and you don't want to make it the focal point. You can't keep beating that dead horse.

--Sohh Gyant

I'm off to Miami for the holidays..But don't worry I still got you for Atlanta's Own tommorrow..

Love you all like the big black fat man with gifts...

Peace!

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